Quadruple Sculls, Men

Poland had been the 2008 Olympic champion in the men’s quadruple sculls and, from 2005 through 2009, the World Champion as well. Their dominance had been broken in 2010, however, when a strong Croatian team had taken the World Championship victory. All four of those men came to London looking to add an Olympic title to their laurels. At the 2011 World Championships, however, teams from Australia and Germany had relegated Croatia to a bronze medal, finishing first and second respectively in a tight race that established both nations as teams to beat in 2012. Not to be outdone, however, Croatia came back over the past year and had the best season of three, leaving no doubt as to which nations would be contending for Olympic gold.

Australia nearly avoided the repêchage, but Croatia and Germany breezed through their heats with the two fastest times of the round. Australia returned to form during the semi-finals, posting the second- fastest time of the round, sandwiched between Croatia and Germany. The final, however, was almost no contest: Germany got an early lead that expanded to an entire length by the final stretch of the race and never let up, securing themselves gold. Croatia came in second for the silver medal and Australia, the defending World Champions, settled for bronze.